Lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall

ABSTRACT

A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall, comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially vertically along said wall, a plurality of shaft sections adapted for unilateral mounting one above the other against said support so as to form a continuous shaft, guide members in each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members of the successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway extending alongside said support, and a lift car adapted to be unilaterally guided along said guideway.

United States Patent t191 Rom pa [54l LIFT FOR INSTALLATION AGAINST A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL WALL [22] Filed; Dec. 27. 1971 [2l] Appl. No.: 221,883

(30] Foreign Application Irioritgt Data Dec, 29. l97() Netherlands 7018981 Dec. 29, 197() Netherlands 7018982 {52} U.S. CI. N 187/2: 52/585; 52/731; IS7/6; IS7/94; 187/95 {5l} Int. Cl B66b 9/18 {58} Field of Search 187/2` 6, 94, 95; 52/730-732, 585

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.644,545 7/l953 North IS7/2 3.592,294 7/l97l Allen 187/94 X 3.627,(179 l2/l97l Nielsen ct al, l87/94 X l 1o "E y|| ,i f" lr E it I' i Il l I lh I' l t :i if l/ "l lll' /zs (KI-1* Illl i i if ,s

.':II qui, //1l| :Hun/8,971: 12/ 1|, i l-l I tr :MI: .mii if #it if l llt 'inl t I /lll gigli; ll" i L iii /uti' 7. #if -1? /l l Il! i ill 'y Iil: 'i e /2 t i l l i451 Apr. 29, 197s FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Pri/nar) Etaminer-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Stoner. Jr. Afmrney. Age/1l. or' Fir-"I Breitenfeld & Levine 7 Claims` 1l Drawing Figures ,1 R fr PMENEnAPRzQlaYs 3,888,258

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av ma 'rToRNEY PATENTE] FRZQ ISYS SHEET 8 0F 8 l 1 //\/w/// E /7/..////////// Yl`his invention relates to a lift for installation against a substantialh vertical wall.

When installing such a lift in the usual wat. much masonry work has to be done to build a shaft. whereas thi.` assembl) of the parts of the lift requires long and :iccurate work.

The present invention provides a lift which cati be installed within a few hours against evisting walls.

ylhis is obtained according to the invention in that a lift for installation against a substantialh vertical wall comprises a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantiall verticallvl along said wall. a pluralit) of shaft sections adapted for unilateral mounting one above the other against said sup port so as to form a continuons shaft. guide members in each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members ofthe successi\c shaft sections form a continuous guidewav e\tending alongside said support. and a lift car adapted to be unilatcrallv guided along said guidewa'v.

Ilias. the onl necessari preparatori work for installing the lift is to prov ide the required openings in floors and ceilings and to attach a number of anchor bolts to the wall. after which the installation of the lift itself is inst a matter of assembling the prefabricated sections. which can be donc quicklv b v relativelv unskilled labourv lo enable a quick assembl). the successive shaft sections and/or guide members are prel`erabl connected bv plugs fitting into aligned hollow beams of said sections and/or members. Said plugs mav each comprise a steel block lined with a plastics suitable for being pressed into the opening of a hollowl beam.

Accurate guidingl of the lift car and the counterweight is possible according to a further feature ofthe invention b v providing each shaft section with two parallel guide beams` the cross sections of each of which comprise a closed rectangular part plus a channel part facing the other beam and a channel part facing awa) from said other beam. 'I`he channel parts of said guide beams facing each other mav then serve as racewavs for the countcrweight ofthe lift. the other channels of said two beams may serve as raceways for the lift car and each beam may further have a third racewav serving also for guiding the lift car. The closed rectangular part of the beams ma) serve to connect the successive beam sections by the plug described. Thus. one pair of beams of relatively simple cross section is sufficient for accurate guidance of lift car and counterwcight.

Each shaft section may be composed of hollow metal beams connected together to a boxlike structure in the corners ot` which three or four hollow beams are united at right angles by means of corresponding plugs. So as to conceal these plugs. the ends of at least some ofthe hollow beams in the corner connections are recessed for lodging an arm ofthe plug. In each corner. these rccesses are preferabl) located at the two inner sides of the lower vertical beam, so that the plug can be inserted in the lower beam and the two horizontal beams and the upper vertical beam can smoothlv abut against the lower vertical beam.

'Ihe sides of the bovlike structures of thc shaft sections can be closed b) metal sheeting or glazing and the hollow beams ofthe structure can have receded tlanges so that the sheeting or glazing and the beams of the shaft sections form a common` smooth outer surface.

l`he vertical support to which the shaft sections arc mounted. comprises preferabl) two vertical hollow beams connected b v cross beams. il`he support can be composed of sections which are mounted one above the other against the wall. The hollow beams ma \4 have a rectangular section with a flange aligned with that side of the rectangle which is remote from the wall. The flanges of the two beams are preferabl) directed towards each other and serve on the one hand for clamping the support against wall anchors and on the other hand for clamping the shalt sections to the support. This provides for a fast. adjustable connection.

SURVEY 0F THE DRAWINGS I`l(. l is a schematic horizontal section of a lift according to the invention.

Fl(i. 2 is a horizontal section. partl v broken awav.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the structure of FIG. 2 at a larger scale` FIG. 4 isa front view. partl \v broken awa). ofthe vertical support.

Fl(` 5 is a top view ofthe vertical support.

l`l(. 6 isa perspective view ofa corner ol`a shaft seclion.

I`I(i. 7 is a cross section of a guide beam.

l`l(i. 8 is a perspective view of a guide bealn with connecting plug.

Fl(i. l is a view from above ofthe base member of the shaft.

Fl(. Il) is a front view of the base member according to Fl(i. 9.

HU. ll is a schematic vertical section of a lift according to thc invention.

DFSCRIPHON OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

'l`he lift according to the invention is intended primaril)v as a small lift for goods. for which a unilateral mounting of the lift car can be used. According to FIGS. l and Il the car l is guided bv mutuall \l perpendicular pairs of wheels 2 and 3 along two parallel vertical guide beams 4 fastened to the rear inner wall of the metal shaft 6 indicated in broken lines. The Counterweight 7 is also guided lalong the guide beams 4 b v mutually perpendicular pairs of wheels 8 and 9. The driving and suspending mechanism for the car l and for the counterweight 7 is mounted on top ofthe shaft 6. The rear of the shaft 6 is fastened to a substantially vertical wall or a like part of a building b v means of a support which is not shown in FIG. l.

According to FIG. 2 anchor bolts lI or the like are mounted at regular spacings in the wall l0 and said anchor bolts hold short horizontal angle irons I2 against the wall. To each angle iron l2. a second horizontal angle iron I3 is adjustablv mounted by means of bolts 14 extending through elongated holes. A support formed b v two vertical box section beams l5 connected at regular spacings bv cross beams I8 at a mutual distance corresponding to the width of the shaft 6` ls clamped against a series of angle irons t3 tw clips t6 acting on a lateral flange I7 of each beam I5. The stipport l5-l8 mav comprise a plurality of sections ofstan` dard length. which can be mounted on top of each other against the walls of the building o\er the total height required for the lift. A fast and adjustable mounting ofthe support is possible merely by clamping the lateral flanges l7 against the angle irons I3 by means of the clips l6. The lower end of the lift rests on a base member (see FIG. 9 and l0) which takes up the load. As shown in FIG. 3. the shaft 6 is also clamped to the lateral flanges l7 of the vertical support l5 by means of clips I9. Thus. after mounting the vertical support to the wall. the lift structure can be completed merely by placing a series of prefabricated shaft sections 6 on top of each other and clamping them against the support l5.

Each shaft section 6 [see especially' FIG, 6] comprises a box shaped frame made up of rectangular scc tion beams 20, 2l connected at right angles to cach other b v means ofplugs 22. The beams 20 are provided with two flanges 23. 24 perpendicular to two adjacent sides of the rectangle. whereas the beams 2l have two flanges 25 perpendicular to two opposite sides of the rectangle. ln the assembled frame. the flanges 23. 24. 25 form supporting rims along the rectangular sides of the box shaped frame for attachment of cover sheeting so as to forni smooth closed sides of the shaftA The cover sheeting may comprise glass or metal which may' be coated with an insulating layer. With respect to the exterior surface of the walls of the shaft 6. the flanges 23. 24. 25 are set back on the beams to such an amount that the exterior surface of the cover sheeting will be in the same plane as the exterior surfaces ofthe beams which constitute the frames ofthe shaft sections. ln the rectangular frames of the shaft sections` the corner connections are made between three or four beams 20, 2l extending at right angles to each other. by plugs 22 comprising a steel core coated by a plastics and having three or four perpendicular arms which are inserted into the hollow beams so as to connect them. ln order to obtain that the plugs in the corners are fully concealed. the upper end of the lower vertical beam 20 of each corner connection is provided with recesses 20 at the two rear sides as viewed in FIGA 6. such that the lateral arms 26. 27 ofthe plugs 22 will be received in said recesses. Thus. the exterior surfaces ofthe central part ofthe plug will be fully' covered by the beam 20 and the three remaining beams may smoothly abut against this beam and fully conceal the plug 22.

The beams 20. 2l are preferably made of aluminium. and to obtain a strong connection with the vertical support l5. steel cores 28 (FIG. 3l are preferably inserted into the beams 2l at the locations where they are fastened against the supports l5. These steel cores 28 also strengthen the connection ofthe guide beams 4 against the same rear beams 2l ofthe shaft sections 6 (see FIG. 3).

According to FlG. 7 and 8 each guide member 4 is made of aligned sections of an aluminium beam. connected by plugs 29 which may' also comprise a core covered b v a plastics andrwhich are inserted in the cenA tral hollow rectangular part of the beams. The sides of the two beams 4 facing each other have pairs of parallel flanges 32 and 33 forming a raceway for the guide wheels 9 of the counterweight and being positioned in line with the parallel sides 30 and 3l of the rectangular central part ofthe beams. the side 30 abutting against the rear wall of the shaft. The guide wheels 2 and 3 of the lift car l are guided in raceways formed at the sides ofthe beams 4 facing away from each other. said raceways being defined by a flange 34 in line with the side 30 of the rectangular central part of the beam, the side 37 ofthe rectangle adjacent the flange 34 and normal to the side 30. a flange 36 in line with the side 37 and extending outwardly of the side 3l of the rectangle. and a flange 35 extending normal to the flange 36 at the end thercofso as to be parallel tothe Harige 34. The wheels 2 of the lift car run on the raceway' between the flanges 34 and 35 and the wheels 3 ofthe lift run on a raceway formed by the opposite surface of the flange 36. see also FIG. l.

A lift according to the invention can be prefabricated in sections composed of the above described beams. these sections can easily be shipped to the building and can be quickly and easily assembled in the buildingA lf desired` control cables and the like can be passed through the beams l5. The beams are preferably made of aluminium. for saving weight and also because the beams 4 can easily' be extruded from aluminium and be redrawn to the exact size.

An important advantage of the described prefabricated construction is that the spacing ofthe two guide members 4 can easily be maintained constant over their full height. without difficult measuring and drilling work during assembling. For the beams 4 are fastened into prefabricated holes of the beams 2l and the cores 28 (see FIG. 3) which holes. together with the beams 2l and the cores 28 themselves. can easily' accurately controlled as to size and location since they are not assembled on the job but in the mill. Thus. the two guide members 4 will always provide an accurate guideway for the lift car.

Preferably. the lift is installed on a base member which serves also for holding a dust tray as shown in FIGS. 9 and lll. The base member 42 is placed on a supporting floor in front of the wall support formed by the two vertical beams l5. The base member 42 is rectangular in plan view so as to correspond to the rectangular shape of the shaft sections 6. The base member 42 is essentially' formed of a metal sheet which is eentrally dished in a direction normal to the wall so as to provide a trough into which the dust tray can be inserted. Along both sides of the trough. a narrow supporting surface 43 extends along the upper surface of the base member 42. at both sides normal to the wall. The lowermost shaft section 6 rests on said supporting surface 43. A vertical plate 44 is mounted against the rear side of the base member 42 and this plate 44 is clamped to the lateral flanges ofthe two vertical beams l5 by means ofclips 4S. At the four corners of the base member 42. adjustable supporting feet 46 are formed by' screw bolts extending vertically under the supporting surfaces 43. so as to adjust the base member to an uneven floor. A plint 47 can be provided around the base member. an opening being provided in the front wall thereof for inserting the dust tray.

What l claim is:

l. A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall. comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially verticallyI along said wall. a plurality of shaft sections each formed of interconnected peripheral elements surrounding an interior of the shaft section. means for interconnecting said shaft sections in axial alignment one above the other so as to form a continuous shaft. means for securing said shaft sections to said support. guide members within the interior of each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members of the successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway within the interior of said shaft. the guide members of each shaft section comprising two parallel guide beams. the cross section of each of which comprises a closed reetangular part plus a channel part facing the other beam and a channel part facing away from said other beam. a lift car within the interior of said shaft. and means movably interconnecting said car and said guideway.

2. A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall. comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially vertically along said wall. a plurality of shaft sections each formed of interconnected peripheral elements surrounding an interior of the shaft section` means for interconnecting said shaft sections in axial alignment one above the other so as to form a continuous shaft. means for securing said shaft sections to said support. guide members within the interior of each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members ofthe successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway within the interior of said shaft. a lift car within the interior of said shaft. and means movably interconnecting said car and said guidcway` each shaft section comprising at least one horizontal rectangular frame and four upstanding posts. all of which are formed by hollow rectangular section beams which are connected at right angles in the corners of the box like structure. recesses being formed at the ends of at least some of the hollow beams of each shaft section such that lateral arms of multi-armed connecting plugs inserted into the hollow beams can extend through said recesses.

3. A lift according to claim 2. in which the recesses for the lateral arms of the connecting plugs are provided at the two inwardly facing sides ofthe lower vertical hollowl beam of each corner connection.

4. A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall. comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially' vertically along said wall. said support comprising a pair of vertical bos shaped beams connected at regular spacings by cross beams. a plurality of shaft sections each formed of interconnected peripheral elements surrounding an interior of the shaft section. means for interconnecting said shaft sections in axial alignment one above the other so as to form a continuous shaft. means for securing said shaft sections to said support. guide members within the interior of each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members of the successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway within the interior of said shaft. a lift car within the interior of said shaft. and means movably interconnecting said car and said guideway.

5. A lift according to claim 4, in which the support comprises a plurality' of sections mounted in line with and on top of each other.

6. A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall. comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially vertically along said wall. a plurality of shaft sections each formed of interconnected peripheral elements surrounding an interior of the shaft section. means for interconnecting said shaft sections in axial alignment one above the other so as to form a continuous shaft. means for securing said shaft sections to said support. guide members within the interior of cach shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members ofthe successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway within the interior of said shaft. a lift car within the interior of said shaft. and means movably interconnecting said car and said guideway. the lowermost shaft section being supported on a base member formed by a dished plate on which a dust tray can be supported. laterally ofthe dished portion the base member having two parallel supporting surfaces for the lowermost section. and four adjustable supporting feet being provided under said supporting surfaces at the four corners of the base member.

7. A lift according to claim 6. in which a vertical plate is attached to the rear of the base member for clamping said base member to the vertical support of the lift. 

1. A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall, comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially vertically along said wall, a plurality of shaft sections each formed of interconnected peripheral elements surrounding an interior of the shaft section, means for interconnecting said shaft sections in axial alignment one above the other so as to form a continuous shaft, means for securing said shaft sections to said support, guide members within the interior of each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members of the successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway within the interior of said shaft, the guide members of each shaft section comprising two parallel guide beams, the cross section of each of which comprises a closed rectangular part plus a channel part facing the other beam and a channel part facing away from said other beam, a lift car within the interior of said shaft, and means movably interconnecting said car and said guideway.
 2. A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall, comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially vertically along said wall, a plurality of shaft sections each formed of interconnected peripheral elements surrounding an interior of the shaft section, means for interconnecting said shaft sections in axial alignment one above the other so as to form a continuous shaft, means for securing said shaft sections to said support, guide members within the interior of each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members of the successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway within the interior of said shaft, a lift car within the interior of said shaft, and means movably interconnecting said car and said guideway, each shaft section comprising at least one horizontal rectangular frame and four upstanding posts, all of which are formeD by hollow rectangular section beams which are connected at right angles in the corners of the box like structure, recesses being formed at the ends of at least some of the hollow beams of each shaft section such that lateral arms of multi-armed connecting plugs inserted into the hollow beams can extend through said recesses.
 3. A lift according to claim 2, in which the recesses for the lateral arms of the connecting plugs are provided at the two inwardly facing sides of the lower vertical hollow beam of each corner connection.
 4. A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall, comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially vertically along said wall, said support comprising a pair of vertical box shaped beams connected at regular spacings by cross beams, a plurality of shaft sections each formed of interconnected peripheral elements surrounding an interior of the shaft section, means for interconnecting said shaft sections in axial alignment one above the other so as to form a continuous shaft, means for securing said shaft sections to said support, guide members within the interior of each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members of the successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway within the interior of said shaft, a lift car within the interior of said shaft, and means movably interconnecting said car and said guideway.
 5. A lift according to claim 4, in which the support comprises a plurality of sections mounted in line with and on top of each other.
 6. A lift for installation against a substantially vertical wall, comprising a support adapted to be mounted against said wall so as to extend substantially vertically along said wall, a plurality of shaft sections each formed of interconnected peripheral elements surrounding an interior of the shaft section, means for interconnecting said shaft sections in axial alignment one above the other so as to form a continuous shaft, means for securing said shaft sections to said support, guide members within the interior of each shaft section positioned so that the aligned guide members of the successive shaft sections form a continuous guideway within the interior of said shaft, a lift car within the interior of said shaft, and means movably interconnecting said car and said guideway, the lowermost shaft section being supported on a base member formed by a dished plate on which a dust tray can be supported, laterally of the dished portion the base member having two parallel supporting surfaces for the lowermost section, and four adjustable supporting feet being provided under said supporting surfaces at the four corners of the base member.
 7. A lift according to claim 6, in which a vertical plate is attached to the rear of the base member for clamping said base member to the vertical support of the lift. 